BODY

Head:Base ring: Using yarn B, ch5, ss into first ch to make a ring. Ch1, 8dc in ring, ss into first dc to join round. Place marker. Ensure you move the marker every round. Each round starts and finishes at centre back of figure, working in a spiral. (8 sts)Round 1: 2dc in each st around. (16 sts)Rounds 2–4: Dc around. (16 sts)Round 5: [1dc, dc2tog, 1dc into next st] 4 times.(12 sts)Round 6: Dc2tog to end of round. (6 sts)Round 7: Dc around. (6 sts)Fill head with toy stuffing. Turning chains are worked from this point on.

Crinoline skirt:Round 16: 3ch, 1tr in base of ch, 2tr in next st, 1tr, [2tr in each of next 2 sts, 1tr] 3 times, ss in 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (20 sts)Round 17: 3ch, [2tr in next st, 1tr] to last st, 2tr in last st, ss in 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (30 sts)Round 18: 3ch, [2tr in next st, 1tr] to last st, 2tr, ss in 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (45 sts)Rounds 19–23: 3ch, tr around, ss to 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (45 sts)

Work scallop edging:Round 24: 1ch, dc in first st, * miss 1 st, 5tr in next st, miss 1 st, dc in next st; rep from * rep 10 more times, ss into first dc to join. You should have 11 scallops around the hem.Fasten off yarn C. Weave in ends.

SKIRT BASEBase ring: Using yarn C, 5ch, ss into first ch to make a ring, 3ch, 9tr into ring, ss into third ch of t-ch to join. (10 sts)Round 1: 3ch, 1tr in base of ch, 2tr in each st around, ss in 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (20 sts)Round 2: 3ch, 2tr in next st, [1tr, 2tr in next st] to end of round, ss in 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (30 sts)Round 3: 3ch, 1tr, 2tr in next st, [2tr, 2tr in next st] to end of round, ss in 3rd ch of t-ch to join. (40 sts)Fasten off, leaving 30cm (12in) tail.

FOOTUsing yarn B, 2ch, 4dc in second ch, ss into first dc to make a ring. Place marker. Move and replace marker as you go. (4 sts)Rounds 1–4:Working in spirals (no t-chs), dc around.Fasten off leaving 10cm (4in) tail.

HAIRUsing A, 2ch, 8dc in second ch, ss in first dc to join.(8 sts)Rounds 1–2: 1ch, dc around, ss in first dc to join.(8 sts)Fill shape with a pea sized ball of toy stuffing.Round 3: 1ch, dc2tog to end of round, ss in first dcto join. (4 sts)Rounds 4: 3ch, 1tr in base of ch, 2tr in each st around, ss in third ch of t-ch to join. (8 sts)Round 5: Rep Round 4. (16 sts)

TIPWhen making the hair I also made a few stitches on the other side of the face in a curved line to make a curl, using the end of yarn A.

FINISHINGFill body with toy stuffing. Thread yarn tail on Skirt Base into tapestry needle and stitch to base of skirt. Weave in ends. Sew foot to underside of scallop hem so it just peeps out under skirt at the front. Slide slipper onto Foot and sew in place.

Frilled neckline:Using yarn C, 26ch, ss in first st to join.[5ch, miss 1 st, dc in next st] around (13 loops in total).Fasten off and use end to sew to neckline of bodice, starting and finishing at centre back st.Attach hair to head.

Ringlets:Ringlet 1: Attach yarn A to any st at back of hair,15ch, turn, work 1dc into each ch working back towards head, ss into join.Ringlet 2: As for first ringlet, working 25 chains.Fasten off. Weave in ends neatly.The ch and dc braids will naturally coil into ringlets, but you can wrap the ringlet around your hook or a pencil to form a tighter ringlet shape if desired.

Tips:If you prefer you can stick the ends of the wire axles to the wheel with a glue gun, using an adhesive that will stick both metal and fabric.As another option you could use four large buttons, each 5cm (2 in) in diameter, as wheels instead.

STALK AND LEAFBase ring: Using yarn B, 5ch , ss in first ch to join.Round 1: 1ch, 12dc in ring, ss in first dc to join round. (12 sts)Turn ring to WS and ss to centre. 16ch, ss in 2ndch from hook, ss in each following ch to make achain cord. Fasten off B (leaving a long tail) andpull chain cord through centre of ring to RS.

Leaf:Using yarn B, 8ch, ss in 2nd ch from hook, *1dc,1htr, 1tr, 2tr in next ch, 1tr, 1htr, 1dc* 1ch, repfrom * to * in other side of ch, ss in last ch.Fasten off B. Use the tail to stitch leaf to stalk, weave in ends.

FINISHINGUsing yarn B, stitch stalk to centre top of pumpkin. Weave in ends.

Window and door:Cut a piece of black felt and a piece of pink felt each about 2 x 3.5cm (3/4 x 1 3⁄8in). Matching up edges, cut one end of both pieces into a rounded or pointed shape. Place the black piece into the top of a pumpkin segment with the shaped end at the top and stitch in place using matching thread. Rep into the opposite (bottom) half of the segment with the pink piece, with the shaped end pointing down. Make a French knot with a snippet of gold yarn for a door handle, or stitch on a gold bead as desired.

WHEELSBend the shorter lengths of wire around the cotton reel or tubular shape to make four rings each measuring 5cm (2in) in diameter (use pliers if necessary). Twist the ends together and then tuck them tightly against the ring. Join yarn B to a wheel-frame and work dc around until covered, ss in first dc to join. Repeat to make 4 wheels.Fasten off yarn B.

Spokes:Thread the darning needle with a length of B and secure the end in the stitches covering the wire, draw the yarn across the centre of ring to the opposite side, secure again then weave along the covering stitches until you are an eighth way round. Repeat to create 8 spokes for the wheel.Cut 4 circles of green felt about 1cm (3⁄8in) diameter and stitch one over the crossed threads in the centre of each wheel.

Attaching the wheels:Push the two longer lengths of medium gauge wire through the bottom of the pumpkin to make axles, making sure they are parallel and that the wheels will not block the door. Bend the wire outward slightly to make a better shape and trim the ends down to the position for the wheels, leaving a little extra to play with. On one side of carriage, bend both the ends of the axle into small loops, making sure the loops are big enough to draw a needle and yarn through. Leave the ends on the other side of the carriage straight for now as you will need to adjust the length of the axle when you attach the wheels.

Place an axel loop against the inside of a wheel in the centre, behind the felt circle. Using yarn B, stitch through the wire loop and the centre of the wheel from the inside to the outside and back again. Repeat several times to make sure the wheel is securely attached to the wire loop. Stitch a small button into the centre of each felt circle to cover the stitching. Repeat to attach the other wheels.

Using a long end of yarn B and a tapestry needle, wrap yarn around the exposed wire of the axle, stitching through the wrappings at intervals to secure, until the wire is fully covered.